AI-Wrangling and Student Success: A Teaching Tool Not A Teaching Takeover.

So, I'm a Gemini Girl at heart. Yes, I've dabbled with ChatGPT, Claude, Flint, Perplexity – especially when AI first caught my attention in 2022, and most recently with my Math Competitions where I love the tables some other AI creates! But usually, I'm a Gemini girl, through and through. I use Gemini to brainstorm, draft emails, create meal plans, toddler sleep routines, and, most importantly, to craft targeted resources for my students. I find Gemini excels at transforming my pedagogical ideas into tangible, adaptable learning tools. My school's all-in on Google, which is fantastic because we use Google Classroom, Gmail, Sheets, Docs, Slides, and all the integrated technology. And my Google phone means Gemini is always accessible.

However, no AI can replace my deep understanding of my students. After a recent assessment, I identified a significant gap in their grasp of hypothesis testing, indicating a need for a highly focused review. So, I leveraged Gemini as my intelligent assistant to create a resource that would truly resonate with them. Here’s how I used AI to enhance my teaching:

• The "One-Shot" Foundation:

  • I began with a broad prompt, a "one-shot" request, instructing Gemini to draft a hypothesis testing review sheet. This provided a foundational structure, a skeleton for me to build upon.

• The "Role-Play" Precision:

  • To ensure the content aligned perfectly with my curriculum, I assigned Gemini the role of "IBDP Mathematics Expert for AISL." This allowed me to guide the AI towards producing pedagogically sound and curriculum-relevant material.

• The "Targeted Questioning" Customization:

  • Through a series of focused questions, I clarified student proficiency, time constraints, and technology integration. This "multiple-shot" approach allowed me to fine-tune the resource, ensuring it met the specific needs of my students.

• The "Data-Driven" Enhancement:

  • I used Gemini to generate specific data sets and a comprehensive answer key, transforming theoretical concepts into practical, applicable examples. This enhanced the resource, making it more engaging for my students.

• The "Practical Application" Integration:

  • I emphasized the importance of embedding TI-Nspire CX II instructions, ensuring my students could confidently apply their knowledge using their calculators. This ensured the AI enhanced resource was practical for my classroom.

So, did it all pan out? Absolutely! It was a real win, with moments of genuine student understanding and valuable learning opportunities. My students, with their collaborative spirits, effectively used the revision packs, slides, and the AI Chatbot as tools. They relied on my expertise in the room to guide their learning, and I was able to pinpoint areas needing further focus. It was a truly rewarding experience! The calculator assistance? Just a normal classroom interaction, easily managed. The language challenges with my ELL students were addressed through targeted adjustments and highlighting key terms. And while I learned to double-check my data sets, the scenarios were largely successful. Ultimately, this experience reinforced that AI is a powerful tool to enhance teacher-driven instruction. It's about using technology to amplify my expertise and empower my students' learning journey.